Got Headaches?

Over 45 million Americans suffer from frequent headaches. If you are one of them, you are certainly not alone. Many people look for quick relief of their headaches in the medicine cabinet. Others simply deal with the pain. There is, however, another option to consider. Over 45 million Americans suffer from frequent headaches. If you are one of them, you are certainly not alone. Many people look for quick relief of their headaches in the medicine cabinet. Others simply deal with the pain. There is, however, another option to consider. Imagine you have 1000 miles to drive in your car. Everything is going well for the first 150 miles, but suddenly the oil light comes on. You are presented with a choice – pull over and get the problem checked out and fixed or put some tape over the oil light. Both take care of the symptom (the oil light), but only one takes care of the problem. Covering up your headache with some aspirin or ibuprofen may relieve the symptom in the short-term, but leaves the underlying problem to grow larger. The headache, as you know, is not caused by a lack of aspirin in the bloodstream. The most common type of headache is the tension headache. It begins in the neck or base of the skull and may progress to encompass the entire head. In fact, 75-90% of people who complain of frequent headaches suffer from this type. Other less common types include cluster headaches and migraines, as well as sinus-type headaches from chronic nasal congestion. The cause of each type of headache is different, but there is an option that, while not a specific treatment for headaches, has proven itself to be effective in relieving many kinds of headaches. I am referring to chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a drug- and surgery-free method of health care based on the inborn healing properties of the body. The brain is the master controller of the body and it communicates with the body via the spinal cord and nerves. Interference with the nervous system by way of spinal misalignments disrupts this communication. If the body is functioning improperly because of improper communication between the nervous system and the body, disease and symptoms occur. Therefore, improving nervous system function, not chemically altering the body, seems to be a logical solution to headache problems. Managing stress level is one key in reducing headache symptoms. Finding outlets for stress like exercise and meditation is important, but most people can only realistically reduce their stress to a certain level. The most effective way to reduce stress level is to improve your adaptability to the stress you live with. All stress, whether physical, chemical or emotional, is dealt with by the nervous system. Therefore a healthy spine and nervous system can handle more stress; it is more efficient. Diet can also have an impact on headache symptoms. Food allergies and sensitivities can cause headache symptoms to occur. By process of elimination, suspect foods can be removed from the diet. The most common dietary triggers are highly processed foods, sugars and additives like monosodium glutamate and artificial sweeteners. Chiropractors are well educated on nutritional subjects and are qualified to make recommendations on the subject. Chiropractic care is a logical choice for millions of Americans who want to stay healthy instead of treating sickness and disease. As mentioned above, it is not a specific treatment for anything, but rather a method of improving function to allow the body to heal itself. Through natural wellness chiropractic care, we have seen miraculous things happen to patients in our office. From resolution of chronic constipation and urinary incontinence to improvement in heel spurs and carpal tunnel syndrome, the amazing healing power of the body is simply turned on and tuned in with chiropractic care.